Artificial hand



G. A. SHIRER.-

ARTIFICIAL HAND. j APPLICATION FILED JAN-29,1920.

Patented June 22, 1920.

FIG.1

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

INVENTOR GEORGE A. snmnraor PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ARTIFICIAL HAND.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 22, 1920.

Application filed January 29, 1920. Serial No. 354,794.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. SHIRER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Artificial Hands; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an attachment f0 cripples.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which may be readily clamped or attached to the forearm andprovided with means for securingin position thereon a knife, fork or tool of any convenient character, the 'method of securing the same in position being of such a simple character that no difiiculty-is encountered even by a cripple in fastening or releasing same. i

To these ends my invention comprises the novel features hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my attachment showing the instrument in position thereon; Fig.

2 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 3 is a like view showing another position; and Fig. 4:

shows a modified form of my invention.

In the drawing, the numeral 2 designates a cylindrical member divided longitudinally at 3 so as to overlap. The fastening means for securing the member 2 around the forearm or wrist 4: may be of any suitable character, that shown consisting of the hooks 5 adapted to be engaged by the hinged straps 6, said strap being provided with several openings 7 to provide for adjustment for forearms of different sizes.

Riveted or otherwise secured to the member 2 at one end thereof is the keeper 8. A locking stud 9 is riveted or otherwise secured to the member 2 at or about themidportion thereof. p

The shank 10 of a knife, fork, spoon or,

. other instrument is formed of spring metal and is bowed as at 11' which forms the contact points 12 and 13. A slot 14 is formed in the shank 10, said slot beingv of suflicient size to slip over the head 15 of the stud 9. The shank is inserted through the keeper 8 and advanced to the position indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2, whereupon it is lowered into the position indicated in full lines Fig. 2, whereupon the instrument is drawn back until the metal at the front end of the slot 14 comes in contact. with the neck 16 of the stud 9. In this manner the knife, fork, or other instrument is locked securely in position, the springiness of the metal of the same acting by bearing at the points 12 and 13 to hold the instrument securely in position. This will be the position'of the parts where there is a pressure rear-wardly on the instrument, but where there is an'outward pull on the instrument as in lifting an object, the parts will take the position indicated in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated a modified form. of my invention, in which a locking dog 17 is pivotally mounted in the head of the stud 18, said locking dog having the lugs 18 and 20. In this construction, the

"shank is inserted as before through the keeper 21 and the slot 22 passes over the stud 18 with the dog in raised position. Whenthe shank has been seated where it is to be used in cases where the pressure is out- Y ward or downward, the dog will take the position indicated in Fig. 4 where the dog lugs 19 form ends or projections for shifting the dog from one side to the other.

engages the inner end of the slot 22. The

The device is of such simple character that the instrument may be inserted and withdrawn by a cripple without'assistance, and even where he is devoid of both hands- What I claim is:

1. In an attachment for cripples the combination of a clamping member for the fore arm, a keeper in said clamping member, a stud on said clamping member, and an instrument. having a bowed shank portion engaging said keeper and having a slot ,5. 9

through which said stud projects to "hold said instrument in position.

2. In an attachment for cripples, the com bination of a clamping member for the fore arm, a keeper mounted thereon, a stud on I said clamping member, an instrument having a bowed shank portion adapted to pass through said keeper, said instrument having a slot through whichsaid stud projects and a locking dog carried by said stud adapted to enter said slot.

In testimony whereof I, the said GEORGE A. SHIRER, have hereunto set my hand.

Roar. D. ToTTEN, JOHN F. WILL. 

